Phenylalanine Analogues: Potent Inhibitors of Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Are Weak Inhibitors of Phenylalanine-tRNA Synthetases

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Abstract
(1-Amino-2-phenylethyl)phosphonic acid (APEP), (1-amino-2-phenylethyl)phosphonous acid (APEPi), α-aminooxy-β-phenylpropionic acid (AOPP) and several other phenylalanine analogues are potent inhibitors of (S)-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) in vitro and in vivo. The ability of these compounds to inhibit (S)-phenylalanine-tRNA synthetases (PRSs) from wheat germ, soybean, and baker’s yeast has been investigated and compared to the inhibition of PAL. APEP and APEPi were found to inhibit the tRNAphe-aminoacylation reactions catalyzed by the three PRSs studied in vitro in a competitive manner with respect to (5)-phenylalanine. (R)-APEP inhibits the PRSs with apparent Ki values of 144 μᴍ for wheat germ (app. Km for (S)-phe 5.2 μᴍ) , 130 μᴍ for soybean (app. Km for (S)-phe 0.9 μᴍ) , and 1096 μᴍ for baker’s yeast (app. Km for (S)-phe 5.5 μᴍ ) . The apparent Ki values for (R)-APEPi are 315 μᴍ , 160 μᴍ , and 117 μᴍ , respectively. APEP and APEPi inhibit the ATPpyrophosphate exchange reactions catalyzed by the PRSs from wheat germ and baker’s yeast, but they are not activated and do not serve as substrates in these reactions. AOPP has no affinity to any of the three PRSs, whereas it is a potent inhibitor of PAL. In light of our in vitro results with PRSs from different sources it appears unlikely that the PAL inhibitors we have studied have any significant inhibitory effect on this essential step in protein synthesis in vivo.

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